Things concerning Jews in Portland and everywhere that happen here and in Israel coming from an American-Israeli.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

No Semitic Race-Only Semitic Languages

Nadene Goldfoot

There is no such thing as a Semitic race, but there are the Semitic Languages, spoken by Arabic, Hebrew and the Abyssinians of 57 million people.

Semites came from Shem, who was one of the 3 sons of Noah. From Shem, the nations of Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, and Aram came forth. Arpachshad was in turn father of Eber and ancestor of Abraham. Peoples speaking tongues similar to Hebew are called Semitic peoples and their languages are Semitic Languages.

There is a connection between Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic. Judah Ibn Kuraish demonstrated it in the 10th century. It was described by W. Wright in 1890. The name "Semitic" for the family is based on Genesis 10 and was suggested by A. L. Schlozer in 1781. The Semitic family forms a branch of the Hamito-Semitic family, to which belong also the Ancient Egyptian, Somali, the Cushitic languages of E. Africa, and the Berber dialects of North Africa.

In Israel, all students study Hebrew and English and may choose to also study Arabic or French. As a teacher of English, I was asked how many languages I spoke. Ha! We Americans tend to study one language only, but luckily I could say 2, being I had done a little with Spanish, another important language in the USA. My Hebrew was taught in Sunday school of which I soon dropped as my attendance had been poor. I had to cram like crazy before I moved to Israel with cards I made all over the house labeling everything in Hebrew. Getting used to reading from right to left is different for an English speaker and reader. Being left-handed, I loved it, especially the writing part.

About Me

I'm the American Nadene Goldfoot. Another lives in England. I'm the one who went to Israel and lived there from 1980 to the end of 1985. I'm an amateur genealogist for our family who also has expanded interests into dna. I now spend my time writing in my 3 blogs teaching about Israel and defending her position.

On my tree I have found Rabbi Samson Wertheimer, RASHI, and King David through DNA testing. Another branch holds the kings and queens of England by genealogy. When current events become deplorable, I turn to this hobby for a lift. It's all whetted my appetite for ancient history of Israel.